A new residency dedicated to jewellery and watch design will bring together Tiffany & Co.’s creative expertise with the cultural and artistic heritage of the UAE.
Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Paillonné Enamel Bangle in Tiffany Blue®
Under the chairwomanship of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Design Commission Abu Dhabi has announced a partnership with Tiffany & Co. to launch the Tiffany & Co. Design Residency Program.
Dedicated to jewellery and watch design, the specialised residency will support emerging designers as they explore the craftsmanship, innovation and cultural storytelling behind both disciplines. The programme forms part of DCAD’s wider mission to establish Abu Dhabi as a global destination for design and creativity through education, international collaboration and professional development.
The residency will bring the richness of Emirati culture, architecture and artistic heritage into conversation with Tiffany & Co.’s nearly two centuries of design innovation. Participants will examine the conceptual, creative and technical foundations of jewellery and watchmaking while developing a design language of their own.
Experimentation, research, and material exploration will sit alongside workshops, mentorship, and an immersive educational journey led by Tiffany & Co. Through this process, residents will gain the design thinking, technical knowledge, and creative methodology required to transform their ideas into contemporary jewellery and watch concepts.
The initiative also reflects DCAD’s commitment to creating a sustainable design ecosystem within Abu Dhabi. By connecting local talent with an internationally recognised design house, the Commission aims to strengthen the infrastructure supporting the emirate’s creative community and provide participants with meaningful professional pathways.
The residency will run from November 2026 to April 2027, with weekly sessions taking place every Saturday at a dedicated venue in Abu Dhabi. It will conclude with a Capstone Exhibition in May 2027, presenting the participants’ final projects within Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape. Following the programme, the three highest-performing residents will be awarded a three-month internship at Tiffany & Co.’s New York headquarters, taking place from June to August 2027.
Ten residents will be selected through an open call running until September 20, 2026. Applications are open to UAE residents of all nationalities who have foundational knowledge of jewellery or watch design. Candidates can submit their applications and portfolios through the DCAD website.
